Setting of contacts on a support

ABSTRACT

Method and machine for setting contacts on supports wherein the contacts are formed by the riveting on said supports of sections of a wire of a suitable contact material severed the ones after the others from a wire fed step-by-step to a contact setting station. The wire sections are positively pushed into said supports after having been transferred into locations opposite those provided in the said supports when the latter are positioned at the station for setting the contact material in place.

United States Patent [191 Hermann et al.

[4 1 Apr. 16, 1974 SETTING OF CONTACTS ON A SUPPORT 3,494,029 2/ i970 Theilgaard 29/628 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner]oseph A. Walkowski Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Steinberg & Blake [22] Filed: June 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 258,578

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 8, 1971 France 71.20704 Method and machine for setting contacts on supports wherein the contacts are formed by the riveting on [52] US. Cl. 29/203 B, 29/203 D, 29/203 J, said supports of sections of a wire of a suitable contact 29/625 material severed the ones after the others from a wire [51] Int. Cl. H05k 13/06 fed step-by-step to a contact setting station. The wire [58] Field of Search. 29/203 B, 625, 626, 628, sections are positively pushed into said supports after 29/630 R, 630 A, 630 C, 432, 423; 174/685, having been transferred into locations opposite those 94 R; 339/17 B, 17 LC, 276 R provided in the said supports when the latter are positioned at the station for setting the contact material in [56] References Cited place.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,438 3/1942 Hothersall 29/432 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SETTING OF CONTACTS ON A SUPPORT The present invention has essentially for its object improvements in the setting of contacts such as, in particular, electric contacts provided on support plates for use in electrically controlled systems or assemblies such as, for instance, telephone exchanges, remotecontrol and monitoring stations and, generally, all systems, assemblies and structures in which multiple electric contacts are used.

The essential problems involved in the constitution of such contact supports are standardized and low-cost production of the supports and the providing of contacts of high quality and constant accurate characteristic.

No known method has as yet enabled these requirements to be met. In particular, the machines which are used to set the contacts on support plates are quite expensive and intricate, and the contact setting rate is very low.

. The contacts are usually obtained by depositing molten metal on the support plate. Machines are also known which form the contacts from a suitable wire which is severed and formed in the support.

The method of the present invention is quite different from the known ones and can be carried out by means of a machine of relatively simple design, to 50 times more economical than the known machines, and ensuring a contact setting rate 10 to 100 times higher.

The method according to the invention is of the type which consists in feeding a wire of suitable contact material and severing the same into sections and then forming the said contacts on the said supports by a riveting, beating or like operation, the said method being characterized in that the said wire sections before being transferred into the said supports are severed to a desired length so as to be positively pushed into the said support, and then formed into contacts, the said alternate operations of feed, severing and transfer of the wire into the support being controlled sequentially and positively in the desired sequence by a system of cams, connecting rods and the like during each cycle of downward and upward motion of a press. It is understood that such a method enables the use of an extremely simplified contact setting machine, since the contacts are not obtained by depositing metal melted on the spot, but simply from wire sections. Moreover, the operating frequency of the machine can be very high and the duration of a contact setting operation can be reduced considerably as compared with the prior art, since all the operations, i.e., the transfer and severing of the wire and the setting of the contacts, are controlled positively.

In order to carry out the method of the invention, use is advantageously made of a machine characterized in that it comprises a device for conveying the supports one'by one to a station for setting the contact material in place and thereafter ejecting the said supports, a device for supplying step-by-step a wire of suitable contact material, a shear for severing the said wire into sections,- transfer means for conveying the said severed wire sections to locations opposite those provided in the said supports when the latter are positioned at the said station for setting the contact material in place, a device for pushing and forcing the said severed wire sections into the said locations, and control and linking means of the connecting rod, cam or like types, associated on the one hand with the movable plate of a press and on the other hand with the said wire supply device, with the said shear, with the said transfer means and with the said device for pushing the said wire sections, the said control means ensuring the sequential series of operations of wire supply, of positive severing into sections, of positive transfer of the said sections and of positive insertion into the support, in this sequence, during each cycle of operation of the press.

It is readily understood that in a machine of this type the means used are of relatively economical design and that, moreover, the contact setting rate can be very high since all the operations are controlled positively, while at the same time the results obtained are quite constant and readily adjustable. In particular, the length of the wire sections which will form the desired contacts subsequent to riveting, heating or the like, can be readily increased or reduced. It is thus possible to modify at will the characteristic on the said contacts. Moreover, if it is desired to change the nature of the contacts, it is sufficient to change the nature of the wire. In addition, the machine may be adapted to any press and used for any support, irrespective of its thickness. Furthermore, the number of contacts set simultaneously by one and the same press can be relatively great.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following description made with reference to the appended drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view with parts broken away, showing the main members of a machine designed according to the invention, the machine being in the position of supply of the shear with wire;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the machine in the position of transfer of the wire sections into the support plate for the contacts;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views, to a larger scale, showing how the contacts are formed from wire sections inserted in their supports.

According to the form of embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the machine comprises essentially: a device 10 for the supply of a wire of suitable contact material, a shear 20 for severing the wire 70 into sections of adjustable predetermined length, a device 30 for pushing the severed wire sections into the orifices 71 of the support plates 72 when, during an operating cycle of the machine,'the severed sections of wire 70 are opposite the said orifices 71, as shown in FIG. 2, and control and linking means such as cams 41, 42 and a push-member 43 associated with the movable plate 44 of a press, the stationary plate of which is seen at 45, the said cams and push-member actuating the wire supply device, the shear and the device 30 for inserting the wire sections into the support plates 72.

The various members of the machine will now be described more specifically.

The device 10 supplying the wire 70 is of a known type per se and comprises a slide 11 urged in the direction of the arrow F, by a spring 12 bearing upon an abutment 13 solid with the stationary portion 14 of the device 10. The slide 11 moves on the portion 14, for instance in grooves. When the movable plate 44 of the press moves downward in the direction of the arrow F, the cam 42 acts upon the roller 15 mounted on the slide 11 so as to push the latter back in the direction of the arrow F against the action of the spring 12, thus compressing the latter, as shown in P16. 2. A movable gripper 16 mounted on the slide 11 bears upon the wire 70 so as to drive it in the direction of the arrow F every time the slide 11 moves in this direction. A stationary gripper 17 secured to the stationary portion 14 of the device It) prevents the backward motion of the wire 70 during the return'motion of the slide 11 (in the direction of the arrow F when the gripper 16 during its backward motion slides on the wire 70. The devices just mentioned are known in themselves.

' Further, two adjusting nuts 18 enable the adjustment of the length e (FIG. 2) of the forward travel of the slide 11 in the direction of the arrow F i.e., the length of the wire sections 70 fed during each cycle of the machine.

The shear 20 comprises essentially a movable blade 21 and a stationary blade 22 which is for instance screwed by means of screws 46 in a member 47 of the machine frame. The movable blade 21 of the shear is driven by a slide 23 carrying a roller 24 upon which acts the cam 41. T8us, when the movable plate 44 of the press moves downward in the direction of the arrow F,- the cam 41 pushes the slide 23 and the movable blade 21 of the shear in the direction of the arrow F In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, a section of wire 70 of predetermined length has just been fed into the orifree 25 of the movable blade 21. In the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the movable blade 21 of the shear has slid in the direction of the arrow F on the stationary blade .22 of the shear, so that the wire section inserted in the orifice 25 has beensevered and then transferred opposite the orifices 71 of the support plates 72. A stud 26 solid with the slide 23 and sliding in the groove 48 of the member 47 accurately positions the orifice 25 of the movable blade 21 of the shear at each end of the motion of transfer of the wire sections in the direction of the arrow F and of idle return motion of the movable blade of the shear in the direction of the arrow F Thus, during every cycle of the machine, a reliable feeding of the wire .70 to the movable blade 21 (FIG. 1) and a reliable insertion of the wire sections into the support plates 72 (FIG. 2) are ensured.

The wire 70 is guided between the gripper 16 and the stationary'blade 22 of the shear by a sheath or the like 49.

- The device 30 which pushes the wire sections suitably severed and transferred by the movable blade 21 of the shear 20 comprises essentially a lever 31 mounted pivotably on a stationary pin 32 and a pushmember 33 ending with a suitably pointed portion 34. The lever 31 is provided with a return spring 35 mounted on a bracket 50 secured to the stationary plate 45 of the press. In the raised position of the movable plate 44 of the press (FIG. 1) the lever 31 is applied'by the spring 35 against a stationary abutment 36 constituted for instance by a screw suitably screwed in a member 51 secured to the machine frame. In this position, the end 34 of the push-member 33 is withdrawn in the stationary blade 22. When the movable plate 44 of the press moves downward, the push-member 43 pushes the lever 31 (FIG. 2) against the action of the spring 35, while the push-member 34, which is then opposite the orifice of the movable blade 21 of the shear, pushes the severed wire section, just transferred by the blade 21, into the confronting orifice 71 of the support 72. The severed wire section is pushed into the support plate 72 which bears upon a counterplate forming a cap 52 (FIG. 2). A buffer device comprising an abutment 53 and a spring 54 ensures a shockabsorbing effect at the end of the cycle of transfer of the wire sections into the plate 72. The pivot pin 32 of the lever 31 is mounted in a fork 56 retained in the member 47 by screws 55.

The device just described operates as follows.

A severed wire section 73 having just been transferred into the plate 72 (FIG. 2), the movable plate 44 of the press rises in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 2). During this motion, the cam 41 at a given moment leaves the roller 24, thus enabling the slide 23 to move backward towards the right in the direction of the arrow F under the action of the return spring 27 of the slide 23. At that moment, the orifice 25 of the movable blade 21 of the shear 20 is located opposite the orifice 28 of the stationary blade 22 of the shear 20, into which ends the sheath 49 through which the wire is supplied. An accurate positioning is ensured, as already mentioned, by the stud 26 playing in the groove 48.

A moment later, and as appears more clearly in FIG. 1, the cam 42 leaves the roller 15 of the slide 11 of the wire supply device, thus allowing the latter to move towards the left in the direction of the arrow F and to simultaneously feed an adjusted length of wire 70 under the action of the gripper 16 solid with the slide 1 1. This adjusted length of wire is thus inserted into the orifice 25 of the movable blade 21 of the shear, as shown in FIG. 1. This length is determined by the value e (FIG. 2) of the clearance allowed for the return motion of the slide 11.

Simultaneously with this rising motion of the plate 44 of the press, the push-member 43 leaves the lever 31 returned by the spring 35 against the abutment 36 as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the push-member 34 is withdrawn in the corresponding recess 29 of the stationary blade 22.

When the plate 44 of the press reaches its upper position, the various devices are substantially in the position illustrated in FIG. 1. When the plate 44 moves down, the cam 42 first meets the roller 51 and pushes the slide 11 of the supply device against the action of the spring 12 in the direction of the arrow F The stationary gripper l7 prevents the backward motion of the wire 70 and the wire supply device is then loaded for a new cycle of wire feed as described above.

A moment later, the cam 41 meets the roller 24 and pushes the slide 23 to the left in the direction of the arrow F During this, the movable blade 21 of the shear slides on the stationary blade 22, thus neatly severing the wire section which has previously been fed into the recess 25 and transferring this section opposite the orifice 71 of a support plate 72. As for the support plate 72, it has been moved to the required position by a suitable device (not shown). At the end of the cycle it will be ejected by this same device and replaced by a new one. Any device of a suitable conventional type may be used to this end.

While the plate of the press 44 continues to move down, the push-member 43 meets the lever 31, actuates the same as shown in FIG. 2, thus raising the pushmember 33 and causing its end 34 to perform the insertion and the transfer of the severed wire section from the movable blade 21 of the shear into the orifice 71 of the support plate 72. At the end of the travel of lever 31 the motion of the latter is damped by the buffer device 53, 54. e

At this stage, the contact material is placed in the support plate and there only remains to suitably form the contacts by riveting, beating or the like.

When the plate 44 of the press rises again, the lever 31 moves up, the push-member 33 moves down and then the cam 41 frees the slide 23 and the movable blade 21 of the shear returns to the right in the direction of the arrow F Then begins a new cycle.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 72 provided with its severed wire section 73 placed in the orifice 71 is ejected from the machine.

Then, there only remains to form the material of the section 73 into a contact 74 (FIG. 4) of suitable shape, for instance by beating or riveting. Depending on the operation performed, the contact may be single or double, it may project from one or both sides of the support plate 72, etc.

The method and machine just described enable a practically unlimited number of contacts to be obtained per press strike, since several such devices may be actuated simultaneously between the plates of one and the same press. The number of contacts set is limited solely by the space necessary for each device. The rates of setting of the contacts are very high as compared with all the known devices, for instance to 100 times higher. Moreover, each device may be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the support plates which are to receive the contacts and with the nature of the contacts to be formed.

Thus, a machine according to the invention ensures operating rates on the order of eight hundred strikes per minute.

In addition, it should be noted that owing to the positive control of the operations, especially of the transfer by the push-member 34 of the wire sections severed by the shear, even if an orifice 71 is not formed at the location normally provided for in the support 72, the setting of the contact takes place all the same as a result of the perforation of the support by the wire section 73 guided in the orifice 25 of the underlying blade 21 (FIG. 2). e

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the form of embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given by way of example only. In particular, it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents to the means described as well as their combinations, should the latter be carried out according to the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Machine for the setting of contacts on supports comprising: a device for conveying the supports one by one to a station for setting the contact material in place and thereafter ejecting the said supports, a device for supplying step-by-step a wire of suitable contact material in the direction of said supports fed at said station, a shear for severing the said wire into sections, transfer means for conveying the said severed wire sections to locations opposite those provided in the said supports when the latter are positioned at the said station for setting the contact material in place, a device for pushing and forcing thesaid severed wire sections into the said locations, and control and linking means associated on the one hand with the movable plate of a press and on the other hand with the said wire supply device, with the said shear, with the said transfer means and with the said device for pushing the said wire sections, the said control means ensuring the sequential series of operations of wire supply, of positive severing into sections, of positive transfer of the said sections and of positive insertion into the support, in this sequence, during each cycle of operation of the press, said shear being formed of a blade movable in translation on a stationary blade, and said machine comprising a wire guide through which a free end of the wire is moved substantially perpendicularly to the plane of displacement of the said shear and opposite an orifice or recess provided in the said movable blade of the shear, when the said blade is in a given feed position prior to shearing, said movable blade of the shear being pushed during the motion, for instance the downward motion, of the upper pressplate, by a cam connected with the said press-plate and acting upon a slide bearing upon the said blade, a return spring means moving the said plate backwards during the following phase of upward motion of the said cam and of the said press-plate, the shearing of the wire section and its transfer taking place positively when the said movable blade of the shear is pushed on the said stationary plate of the shear.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for supplying said contact material wire comprises a gripper for the supply of wire step-by-step, the movable portion of the said gripper being actuated positively in translation in the opposite direction to that of the wire feed, by a cam solid with the movable plate of the press, and being returned in the direction of wire feed by helical spring means, and an adjustable abutment solid with the movable portion of the gripper and bearing upon the stationary portion of the said gripper at the end of its travel for adjusting the length of the motion of wire feed.

3. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for the pushing of the wire sections and their positive insertion into the contact supports comprises a lever mounted pivotably on a pinextending perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the press-plates and solid with the machine frame, an actuating rod or pushmember solid with the said movable press-plate and bearing positively upon the said lever to force the said severed wire sections into the said support, a return spring for the said lever and a pushing rod or pushmember which is mounted pivotably at the end of the lever and which moves opposite locations provided in the support and the holes formed in the movable blade of the shear at the moment when the said wire sections are transferred into the said support. t

4. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the cams actuating respectively the gripper and the shear move in translation together with the movable pressplate in the same direction as the said press-plate, and wherein during the motion of one of the said press-plates towards the other the cam actuating the gripper first pushes the movable portion of the gripper before the cam actuating the shear pushes the slide associated with the movable blade of the shear. 

1. Machine for the setting of contacts on supports comprising: a device for conveying the supports one by one to a station for setting the contact material in place and thereafter ejecting the said supports, a device for supplying step-by-step a wire of suitable contact material in the direction of said supports fed at said station, a shear for severing the said wire into sections, transfer means for conveying the said severed wire sections to locations opposite those provided in the said supports when the latter are positioned at the said station for setting the contact material in place, a device for pushing and forcing the said severed wire sections into the said locations, and control and linking means associated on the one hand with the movable plate of a press and on the other hand with the said wire supply device, with the said shear, with the said transfer means and with the said device for pushing the said wire sections, the said control means ensuring the sequential series of operations of wire supply, of positive severing into sections, of positive transfer of the said sections and of positive insertion into the support, in this sequence, during each cycle of operation of the press, said shear being formed of a blade movable in translation on a stationary blade, and said machine comprising a wire guide through which a free end of the wire is moved substantially perpendicularly to the plane of displacement of the said shear and opposite an orifice or recess provided in the said movable blade of the shear, when the said blade is in a given feed position prior to shearing, said movable blade of the shear being pushed during the motion, for instance the downward motion, of the upper press-plate, by a cam connected with the said pressplate and acting upon a slide bearing upon the said blade, a return spring means moving the said plate backwards during the following phase of upward motion of the said cam and of the said press-plate, the shearing of the wire section and its transfer taking place positively when the said movable blade of the shear is pushed on the said stationary plate of the shear.
 2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for supplying said contact material wire comprises a gripper for the supply of wire step-by-step, the movable portion of the said gripper being actuated positively in translation in the opposite direction to that of the wire feed, by a cam solid with the movable plate of the press, and being returned in the direction of wire feed by helical spring means, and an adjustable abutment solid with the movable portion of the gripper and bearing upon the stationary portion of the said gripper at the end of its travel for adjusting the length of the motion of wire feed.
 3. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for the pushing of the wire sections and their positive insertion into the contact supports comprises a lever mounted pivotably on a pin extending perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the press-plates and solid with the machine frame, an actuating rod or push-member solid with the said movable press-plate and bearing positively upon the said lever to force the said severed wire sections into the said support, a return spring for the said lever and a pushing rod or push-member which is mounted pivotably at the end of the lever and which moves opposite locations provided in the support and the holes formed in the movable blade of the shear at the moment when the said wire sections are transferred into the said support.
 4. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the cams actuating respectively the gripper and the shear move in translation together with the movable press-plate in the same direction as the said press-plate, and wherein during the motion of one of the said press-plates towards the other the cam actuating the gripper first pushes the movable portion of the gripper before the cam actuating the shear pushes the slide associated with the movable blade of the shear. 